Friday April 15, 2011

Puduraya Terminal to begin operations tomorrow

By BAVANI M
bavanim@thestar.com.my
Photos by NORAFIFI EHSAN

THE 35-year-old Puduraya bus terminal will finally open for operations tomorrow after undergoing massive renovations costing RM52.7mil. The opening was delayed several times due to additional work on the base of the building.

UDA Holdings Berhad managing director Datuk Jaafar Abu Hassan said the terminal is 98% ready with the exception of certain areas. He said both north-bound and intra-city buses will begin operations tomorrow.

Well lit: Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Adnan Ikshan (left) and Jaafar taking the walkalator at the main entrance area.

“Bus companies and retail outlets are in the process of collecting their keys and moving from the temporary terminal at Bukit Jalil,’’ he said.

The new Puduraya terminal has three new waiting areas, one on the Mezzanine floor and two more on the first floor. There are two units of walkalators and disabled-friendly facilities.

There are 50 ticketing counters on the first floor. “We have appointed a company to develop an e-ticketing system, and they will work with the bus companies to streamline the system proper,’’ said Jaafar. He added that the e-ticketing system would incorporate the system the bus companies were currently using and that he hoped to resolve the e-ticketing problem as soon as possible.

Spic and span: The new food court.

“Once e-ticketing is enforced, we can resolve the tout problem as people can now buy tickets online and via the e-kiosk. Buses will now have to park at the depot at Jalan Galloway and they will be given a 20-minute waiting time before they can come into Puduraya to pick up passengers,’’ Jaafar said.

“They (buses) will no longer be allowed to park outside the terminal, and situations of them queuing up outside the terminal with their engines running and causing congestion will no longer happen,’’ he said.

He added contractors will be on standby on Saturday to ensure that everything goes according to plan.

Land Public Transport Commis-sions (LPTC) head of State Operations and Terminal Licensing Mohd Fuad Ahmad said there would be extra enforcement by the authorities tomorrow. “We will not tolerate touting and anyone found guilty of touting can be charged in court and fined up to RM50,000 or face a maximum jail term of two years,’’ said Mohd Fuad.

Cooler environment: Puduraya now has three posh waiting areas.

“We will go all out to catch them (touts) as our enforcement personnel will be placed in strategic places to monitor their activities,’’ Mohd Fuad said.

On the upgrading of Puduraya Hotel, which has been renamed Angkasa Express, work is expected to complete by June.

The terminal was closed in April 2010 for upgrading works and was supposed to be re-opened in September last year.